Push to bring women’s professional soccer to Edmonton

Two local women are looking to bring another professional sports team to Edmonton — one our city has never had before.

Hoping to capitalize on the rise in popularity of women’s sports , they’re aiming to convince the Northern Super League to expand and bring pro soccer to Alberta’s capital.

Seven teams are signed up for the league’s third season, including cities like Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax, but Edmonton isn’t one of them.

A few weeks ago, she says, NSL reps came Edmonton to speak about a possible expansion.

But she says three things are needed before Edmonton could get a team.

One is community support, so there’s a petition circulating to try and drum up signatures to show interest.

“And the third part is: Are there investors? Are there people who would put up their money to bring this team to Edmonton?” Parmar explained.

Local soccer coach Marni Devlin Moses is spearheading the push with Parmar.

“The passion is there, the drive. These girls work so hard. They live and breathe soccer. And I would love for them to have a pathway to the professionals in their own country, their own backyard.”

Pandas alumnus and assistant coach Autumn Wynn said she wishes this would’ve happened sooner, so she could have looked to transition from varsity into pro.

“Being able to play the sport that I love and getting paid to do it, I think it’s just super exciting.”

The NSL was co-founded by longtime Team Canada player, Diana Matheson.